Charade (1963)

[Hiyo]

The best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made.

Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in top form, along with a strong supporting cast (Walter Matthau and James Coburn, among others), a fun twisty plot, lovely location porn, great dialogue and set pieces, and a great opening theme into.

On another note, I introduced this movie to a friend, and I loved their reaction: "Oh, so that's the movie Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman is watching!"

[Athena]

I love this movie and it's one of the earliest ones I remembered watching as a kid. I didn't even know the name of it for awhile but I always remembered the twist which inspired a mild philately phase as a kid.

Audrey Hepburn remains one of my favourite actors because of this movie and others. Cary Grant said they had a lot of fun making this movie and you can actually tell based on their banter and chemistry.

They did a remake of it which I read was really bad and as much as I like Thandie Newton, I don't think I'll ever watch it especially since the original is so fun.

Stanley Donen did a great job of directing this and really showed his range as a director since he mostly made musicals before. I  find rewatching some Hitchcock movies now difficult or impossible because of the director's reputation. I am grateful that so far Donen and this movie remains relatively uncontroversial. I rarely rewatch movies and this is one of my exceptions. Reminds me I should put it on again soon :)

[AgathaC]

I need to pull this one out again, too! Such a good movie — funny, but also appropriately suspenseful.

Bio side note: My grandfather, who was a gadget nut and bought one of the first VCRs on the market, had a huge collection of movies he’d taped off of TV. Once I developed an interest in old movies, one of my favorite activities was going to their house (they lived about a mile away), grabbing his Maltin guide, and combing through his collection for more movies to watch.

I found Charade during my Cary Grant phase, when I had just finished my Hitchcock list. Perfect timing.

Anyway, it’s such a fun movie. Great locations. Witty banter. Cary Grant’s ever-changing name/motivation. The menacing but slightly comic goons.

If I’m remembering my film history correctly, originally, Grant’s character was supposed to be pursuing Hepburn’s, but he felt like he was starting to look like a dirty old man and had them change it so she was the pursuer. He thought that would look and feel less creepy.

And, yes, there was a remake called The Truth About Charlie — or something like that. I refused to see it. No way it could have really competed.

Edited October 31, 2022 by AgathaC

[Hiyo]

Quote

there was a remake called The Truth About Charlie — or something like that. I refused to see it. No way it could have really competed.

Best to avoid that one.

[Milburn Stone]

I could watch those Maurice Binder/Henry Mancini titles infinity times.

Donen was trying to make that circle-in-a-square logo into a "thing" for a while. I wonder what it was supposed to mean.

Edited November 3, 2022 by Milburn Stone

[Constant Viewer]

This is one of my favorite movies. I love Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. She later went on to reteam with Stanley Donen in Two for the Road, another really good movie. I read that when Audrey met Cary Grant she was nervous and accidentally spilled wine on him so in the film she also gets ice cream on his suit.

There are a lot of funny parts in the movie said by extras. 

Her clothes are also really stylish.

[Irlandesa]

On 10/31/2022 at 9:13 AM, AgathaC said:

If I’m remembering my film history correctly, originally, Grant’s character was supposed to be pursuing Hepburn’s, but he felt like he was starting to look like a dirty old man and had them change it so she was the pursuer. He thought that would look and feel less creepy.

That makes sense.  From what I remember, fearing he'd look too old for her is the reason he turned down the  Linus role in Sabrina that Humphrey Bogart eventually took.  It's such a shame too because I think Bogart was so miscast and had Grant taken the part, the love story would have worked so much better.

[Athena]

On 11/6/2022 at 10:26 PM, Constant Viewer said:

This is one of my favorite movies. I love Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. She later went on to reteam with Stanley Donen in Two for the Road, another really good movie.

Donen and Hepburn made three movies together: Funny Face, Charade, and Two for the Road. He said she was one of his favourite actresses and both him and Billy Wilder loved working with her. He really understood her as an actor because while Funny Face and Charade have similarities, the tones and characters of the three movies are different.

Audrey Hepburn's costars were almost always older and in some cases, much older than her, but I think the age difference is less noticeable here. They changed the script to her being the pursuer, but I think Audrey's image had matured a lot in the end of the 50s. When they made this movie she was about 31 and she had her first son. Also Gary Grant is so playful here and in general that it never felt to me he was too old for her.

[Palimelon]

Charade: Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant are irresistible in this frothy thriller.

A flighty caper is pinned down by the chemistry between its legendary leads: Hepburn has arguably never been funnier, with Grant in his silver fox era.

[Palimelon]

Full movie available on Youtube for those interested:

 

[Fool to cry]

I first saw it on PBS station in the 90s. Cool and funny thriller with some nice twists. That animated opening credits and Henry Mancini theme is great. "Audrey Hepburn menaced by character actors" is a genre that I wish there were more movies of. The only other one is Wait Until Dark. 

[Cobb Salad]

My 2nd favorite Cary Grant movie (North By Northwest being my #1 favorite) 

I wish they did another movie or two together.  Loved the chemistry between them, especially during the last scene of the movie with the final reveal.